A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Evaluating Crowd Induced Dynamic Loads through Field Measurement and Analytical Methods
Crowd behavior during Lively Concerts and sporting events may excite the supporting structures. Even more extreme, Exercise Concerts (similar to a Zumba® Fitness Concert) can have music beats approaching 3 Hz, or 180 beats per minute. This frequency range is likely to exceed the rhythmic activity design parameters typically assumed by designers. Owners and facility operators may be concerned about the life safety and comfort of patrons engaged in such activities. On a recent project, we investigated an existing structure for crowd induced dynamic loading from a “Fitness Concert” for an owner. The project involved a floor structure comprising existing precast double-tee beams supported on inverted tee-girders. We conducted field measurements in order to verify the dynamic properties of the structural system. In order to do simple infield measurements of the floor structure, an iPhone was used to generate acceleration-time history data from an application using the phone’s built-in accelerometers. We verified the iPhone for this type of application with a simple test setup in the office. We used the field measurements with published analytical methods referencing the PCI Design Handbook, the National Building Code of Canada, and AISC Design Guide 11. We computed equivalent static loads (ESL) for a range of forcing frequencies to compare the dynamic loading with the design capacity of the precast double-tee. The study determined that the precast double-tee beams were suitable for typical concert crowd loads. However, the response from Exercise Concerts exceeded the typical human perception tolerance levels.
Evaluating Crowd Induced Dynamic Loads through Field Measurement and Analytical Methods
Crowd behavior during Lively Concerts and sporting events may excite the supporting structures. Even more extreme, Exercise Concerts (similar to a Zumba® Fitness Concert) can have music beats approaching 3 Hz, or 180 beats per minute. This frequency range is likely to exceed the rhythmic activity design parameters typically assumed by designers. Owners and facility operators may be concerned about the life safety and comfort of patrons engaged in such activities. On a recent project, we investigated an existing structure for crowd induced dynamic loading from a “Fitness Concert” for an owner. The project involved a floor structure comprising existing precast double-tee beams supported on inverted tee-girders. We conducted field measurements in order to verify the dynamic properties of the structural system. In order to do simple infield measurements of the floor structure, an iPhone was used to generate acceleration-time history data from an application using the phone’s built-in accelerometers. We verified the iPhone for this type of application with a simple test setup in the office. We used the field measurements with published analytical methods referencing the PCI Design Handbook, the National Building Code of Canada, and AISC Design Guide 11. We computed equivalent static loads (ESL) for a range of forcing frequencies to compare the dynamic loading with the design capacity of the precast double-tee. The study determined that the precast double-tee beams were suitable for typical concert crowd loads. However, the response from Exercise Concerts exceeded the typical human perception tolerance levels.
Evaluating Crowd Induced Dynamic Loads through Field Measurement and Analytical Methods
Aitken, Nicholas (author) / Wheeler, Eric J. (author) / Maschke, Ken R. (author) / Bast, William D. (author)
Structures Congress 2015 ; 2015 ; Portland, Oregon
Structures Congress 2015 ; 667-679
2015-04-17
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Evaluating Crowd Induced Dynamic Loads through Field Measurement and Analytical Methods
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